AnnoyingPentium

The Fabia is a bit broken right now so I can't do any sort of photography like this with it at the moment, but I've got this.

I'd just go for something mid-range like Falkens or something. In my experience they've been pretty decent, especially for the price. It doesn't require hours of research either. Up to you though.

Mate of mine had a Chinese-flavoured Volvo 850 TDI (the VW engined kind). Got the oil from the local takeaway for 30p.

A bargain, I reckon I could have been in with a shout (of the deposit for a mortgage to buy it)...

Lovely motor there, Gaz. One just like it kicking about my way. Think I have a photograph of it somewhere.

I achieved a similar look with my Fabia when the regulator went and the glass descended into the depths of Hell.

I may be able to source you some halogen headlight units if the breakers yard near me still has two Fabias in, may need polishing, but otherwise all good last time I checked. Would be worth trying to sort yours out first.

Just enough of a difference to cause many an issue with incorrect parts.

Seems excessive to pull it all apart, but I'll page in @Breezy_Pete as he may have more experience - given he swapped a 1.2 once.

As above, best leaving her with what she's got, but a front engined move "forwards" could be something like a Mk2/3 Astra? Bit more modern (ish), has some tech etc, but not one of these cars that's like the control panel for a spaceship inside. Again, though, as you know, if it ain't broke...

I can't speak for others either, but I'm in a position where I'd organise something, but life gets in the way, not to mention the cost of living cairry oan we find ourselves in. Be the change you want to see, and so on.

Oh aye, don't get me wrong. I quite like Clarkson and his books, but this is somewhere, where I don't agree with him. Although, I can't defend the Vectra C, I didn't like it either.

Aaaaaaaand it's back. £131 later for a track rod and tracking. Now goes in a straight line, bonus. Thank **** for that.

This, is my 1999 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v Arctic Special Edition (try saying that three times as fast) that I bought three weeks ago. It's very much a low mileage car, having just shy of 27,000 miles when I picked it up. Unlike my Fabia, I've no intention with deviating from the original spec, bar some period additions such as a Garfield on one of the windows and suchlike. This thread will probably document me getting small details for it, and just keeping it looking and running mint (which, believe me, when it comes to a Vectra near salt water, is a task in itself). So, what's it like? It's actually rather good. It's smooth, and refined feeling, plus the multi-link rear suspension setup really does help with handling/road holding. It's a confident and sure footed drive. This, or the Skoda? Even the mental narrator has it in for me, ffs. Erm, actually, I can't pick between the two. The Fabia, despite lacking in power, is a very fun little car. Poised and cheeky. Plus it's less likely to dissolve if it rains heavily and doesn't shaft me financially at the fuel pumps. This Vectra, on the other hand, is quick, it's spacious, and it's actually comfier than the Fabia (although they do have about 220k miles on them, they're not original). So aye, maybe this is the ideal two car balance? Has it broke yet? Erm, it had been in limp home mode since I bought it, but only noticed when gunning it off a roundabout passing Durham at 1am and the limiter kicked in at 4500rpm. As of today, the cam sensor has been replaced, and it now has the lost power returned. It moves well for a nearly 25 year old (?!?!) car.

The Fabia is going for a track rod replacement tomorrow. Not nervous about that, but in case they find some more ****ed things due to my escapades with ditches and suchlike. My aim for the coming (February) MOT, is to have it pass first time. Clutching at straws a bit, as I've never had a first time pass with this one!

Why is it always after I buy a car that something else tasty comes up? Must. Resist. Temptation. (and the subsequent "why the f*** did you buy that" comment from the neighbours when we have YET ANOTHER car parked on the street) Good luck with the sale, though.

Ouch, quite the sore yin. Will catch up with you at some point

Well at least you're still alive... been meaning to pop you a text.

Looks to be the first time around! Aye, personalised plate and didn't even mean it! 😂

So, got the insurance sorted for the Fabia, so it's back on the road as of Tuesday. In the meantime, it found itself a friend. Well chuffed with this Vectra, not sure if I'll make a project thread for it yet, as I don't plan on modifying it, just keeping it running and tidy. So aye, I find myself with two lovely runners. The Vectra will be doing most of the summer mileage, and the Fabia will remain as the "everything else" car including LEZ, towing, etc.

I suspect your odds of a response to this are pretty slim, as the user you've quoted has not been on-line since 2017.

Someone on here was fabricating a Fabia shell over an Audi TT floor pan at one point. I can't remember who, but I haven't seen anything about it for a little while.

As said, 195/50/R15. That's what I ran for ages, now on 185/60/R14, but that's personal preference. Either way, you may find most of your speedo inaccuracy is removed by fitting the correct size tyres. It's meant to over-read anyway, by design of regulation.

That's what I'm doing with the Focus!

As an update on the Fabia: I'm keeping it, despite my latest purchase being picked up on Monday. The main motivator behind the newest purchase was that the Fabia was only getting worse being run daily without the time to repair the issues that have been mounting up. So, it's going on a low mileage insurance policy, I'm going to begin a front suspension overhaul, and then going to use it for LEZ purposes, shows, and the occasional trailering as the new Vectra doesn't have a tow bar and I don't want to fit another.